Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-07-12

Made hy the De,ot--, OF Arsenic-oth.r
Poisnns Used.
1t is not generally known To what an
alarming extent poison eating is practiced
in this country a. we'll as ia Europe Ia
some of the diStTicS of lower Austria, and
[ in StNria, especially in the mountainous
parts, there prevails the habit of eating
arsenic The peasantry are particularly
given Ia II They obtain il under the
name of hcdri. from travelling huckSters
and gathrrcr~ Of herbs, who on their
part. procure 1t from the glass blowers or
from lile low doctors or mUuutcbaukS
The arsenic eater has a twufOld aim in
the dangerous enjoyment. one of which is
the desire Ia obtain "A fresh. healthy ap-
pearanCe and acquire II certain degree Of
embonpoint. and on this account lads and
laSSieS in the European countries employ
the agent that they may become more
attractive 10 each other. and their en-
dtavorS are attended with astonishing re-
suits. for the poison eaters are. generally
speaking. distinguished by a fresh com
plrNiou, and have the appearance of eXu-
herant health. Not long since farm
servant. who was thin and pale but well
and healthy, wished 10 make herself more
attractive 10 her lover. and in order 10
obtain more pleasing exterior. swal-
lowed every week several doses OF ar
seniC The desired result was obtained.
In few months she WAS quite according
Ia her lovers taste. IN order to increase
the effect she Increased the dose of ar
seuic and fell a victim To her vanity. She
WAS poisoned and died a distressing death
DEATHS FROM ARSENIC.
Tho number of deaths i'll consequence of
the snmodrrate enjoyment of arsenic is
mol iuCon>idcrahle. especially among the
young Whether il arises from fear of
the law. which forbidS the unauthorized
possession Of arsenic or whether il he |
that an inner voice proclaimS 10 him his |
sin. the arsenic eater always conccals as |
much possible the use of it. The Euro |
peau peasants say they eat il TO make |
themselves better winded"-that is, to |
max" the respiration easier when ascend |
ing the mountains. Whenever they have !
far 10 90 and 10 mount IA considerable |
height they take Il minute mOrSel Of |
arsenic and allow it 10 gradually dissolve |
in the mouth. They say the effect Is sur
priSing. and they ascend with ease heights !
which otherwise they could climb only !
with distress Ia the chest.
The dose with which the poison enters
begin consists Of rather less than hall a
grain. and then the quantity is increased |
according TO the effect produced. re-
Gently learned Of a man of 90 years who
at present takes at every dose a piece
about the weight of four grains. For
forty years he has practiced the habit.
which he inherited from his father. and |
he, in all probability will hequeath the
same to his children. 1t is stated that
neither in these nor in other poison eaters
is there the least trace of an arsenic
caCheNy diScernible, and that the svmp-
toms of a chronic arsenical poisoning
never show themselves in individuals who
adapt the dose To their constitution, even
though that dose should he considerable,
but when from inability To obtain the acid
or other cause the perilous indulgence is
stopped. there appear symptoms Of Illness
which have the closest resemblance 10
those produced by arsenic poisoning These
symptoms consist principally in "A feeling
of general discomfort, attended 10y per-
feet indifference to all surrounding per-
sons and things, great personal anxiety, |
and various distressing sensations arising
from the digestive organs, lack of ap-
petite, a constant feeling that the stomach
is overloaded i'll the morning. a burning
from the pyiorus 10 rhe throat. pains in
the stomach and particularly great diff
Guilty in breathing. For all these symp-
toms there is but one remedy-a return
TO the use Of arsenic.